billh
Pro Member
Posts: 231
Zone:: 6a
Joined: December 2011
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Post by billh on Dec 24, 2011 17:44:27 GMT -5
I bought some blackberries from Stark bros. and after they arrived I read that the 2 types I have are "trailing" the other choices are erect and semi erect. Can anyone tell me what this means? By the way the 2 types I have are triple crown and Chester
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grunt
Junior Member
Posts: 72
Joined: June 2011
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Post by grunt on Dec 24, 2011 18:25:04 GMT -5
Chester is a very good thornless, and can be very productive if you give it enough water. I put a pair of posts about 20 feet apart, with a top wire going between them. The Chester is planted in the middle and trained one way one year, and the new growth trained the other way the next. That was the original plan anyway = it usually doesn't happen. They are fairly late for my growing conditions, but very good wen the do ripen. I think the erect do not get quite as long a runner as the trailing. Be aware that the tip of the trailing vines will root quite readily if you don't catch them in time.
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billh
Pro Member
Posts: 231
Zone:: 6a
Joined: December 2011
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Post by billh on Dec 24, 2011 18:37:02 GMT -5
Thanks grunt, yea I've already experienced the root deal. I'm in the process of planting posts about 7ft. apart and the arching cattle panels between them hopefully the berries will grow over it and make a 30ft. tunnel of sorts. As you said thats the plan.
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grunt
Junior Member
Posts: 72
Joined: June 2011
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Post by grunt on Dec 24, 2011 19:21:17 GMT -5
You will have to guide the growing tips periodically, to keep them going up and over.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2011 1:26:07 GMT -5
check out utube for pruning and also how to start new plants. I have upright thornless type Blackberries , I tried the soaker hose but I have iron in my well water and so I replaced the hoses every year but this past year due to the severe drought we had,I use drip hose with a timer on it and I love it ! I just run a drip over to each bush ,I also use it on my fig trees and grapes . I love the timers as it shuts itself off after 1 hour of watering and my plants look great. I run a T post and wire attached down the sides of my bushes with the stalks in the middle and this containes them for me to mulch and keeps the berries up and clean.
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Post by coppice on Dec 25, 2011 5:01:09 GMT -5
Cane like to set roots at the tip when it touches soil. This isn't a problem if you train them 'up' with a wire (or something). It can quickly turn into a just about unpickable thicket if you let them go.
This is a good pioneer plant in restoring returning forrests. Less so for a tidy orchard.
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